U.S. patent application number 16/493679 was filed with the patent office on 2020-01-09 for airbag device for interior trim element of a motor vehicle.
The applicant listed for this patent is PSA Automobiles SA. Invention is credited to Pascal MARTIN.
Application Number | 20200010042 16/493679 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58707872 |
Filed Date | 2020-01-09 |
![](/patent/app/20200010042/US20200010042A1-20200109-D00000.png)
![](/patent/app/20200010042/US20200010042A1-20200109-D00001.png)
![](/patent/app/20200010042/US20200010042A1-20200109-D00002.png)
United States Patent
Application |
20200010042 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MARTIN; Pascal |
January 9, 2020 |
AIRBAG DEVICE FOR INTERIOR TRIM ELEMENT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE
Abstract
The present invention concerns an airbag device comprising a
security module (10) comprising a rigid body forming a casing (12)
and a firing channel (20) comprising a top wall (21), two
transverse guide flanges (22, 23) and two transverse walls (32B),
said body comprising two transverse flanks having teeth (16)
engaged in windows (30) provided on said transverse flanges (22,
23) and two side walls (17) in each of which an opening (17B) is
provided, positioned close to the vertical of one of said
transverse walls (32B) so as to allow two rods (T) that have been
inserted through these openings (17B) to bear on these transverse
walls (32B) so as to pivot in order to exert a lever effect causing
said module (10) to move in translation and the teeth (16) situated
on one of said transverse flanks to disengage from the
corresponding windows (30).
Inventors: |
MARTIN; Pascal; (Bart,
FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
PSA Automobiles SA |
Poissy |
|
FR |
|
|
Family ID: |
58707872 |
Appl. No.: |
16/493679 |
Filed: |
February 13, 2018 |
PCT Filed: |
February 13, 2018 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR2018/050349 |
371 Date: |
September 12, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 21/20 20130101;
B60R 21/205 20130101; B60R 21/217 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60R 21/205 20060101
B60R021/205; B60R 21/217 20060101 B60R021/217 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 22, 2017 |
FR |
1752344 |
Claims
1. An airbag device for an interior trim element of a motor
vehicle, the airbag device comprising: a security module comprising
a rigid body forming a casing that houses an airbag and a gas
generator, and a firing channel comprising a top wall designed to
be fixed against said interior trim element when the airbag device
is positioned in the vehicle and two transverse guide flanges
extending parallel to one another from and beneath said top wall,
said transverse guide flanges partially surrounding said body, the
body also comprising two parallel transverse sidewalls each having
a plurality of snap-fit teeth adapted to be received in respective
windows provided in said corresponding transverse flanges (22, 23)
of said firing channel (20); wherein said firing channel also
comprises two transverse walls proximate side ends of said firing
channel and extending from and beneath said top wall, said body of
the security module also comprising two extensions each of which
defines an orifice positioned to be close to one of said respective
transverse walls of the firing channel when the airbag device is
assembled; the orifices enabling two rods (T) having to be inserted
through these orifices up to said top wall (21) of the firing
channel to bear on these transverse walls whereby, when the rods
are pivoted about a transverse axis they exert a lever effect
causing said security module to move in longitudinal translation in
relation to said firing channel thereby disengaging the teeth
situated on one of said transverse sidewalls from the corresponding
windows of the firing channel.
2. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein external faces
of said transverse sidewalls of said body are spaced apart a
distance corresponding to a distance separating internal faces of
said transverse flanges of the firing channel.
3. The airbag device according to claim 1 wherein said firing
channel is molded in one piece from an thermoplastic resin loaded
with an elastomer.
4. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein said firing
channel (20) comprises two side guide flanges extending parallel to
one another from and beneath said top wall and partially
surrounding said body of the security module.
5. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein said firing
channel also comprises, close to side ends, two bearing
box-structures extending from and beneath said top wall, the bottom
end of each of said box-structures resting against one of said
corresponding extensions of said body of the security module.
6. The airbag device according to claim 5, wherein each of said
box-structures abuts against an external face of one of said
respective side guide flanges of the firing channel.
7. The airbag device according to claim 5, wherein each of said
transverse walls forms a part of one of said respective bearing
box-structures.
8. The airbag device according to claim 5, wherein each of said
extensions of the body has a second orifice aligned with a
respective hole in one of said corresponding box-structures, said
device also comprising two screw/nut pairs each screwed through one
of said second orifice and one of said holes of said box
structures.
9. The airbag device according to claim 1, wherein said top wall of
the firing channel comprises two contiguous sections, the contours
of which are delimited by less resistant frangible grooves capable
of breaking under the pressure of said airbag in the event of the
device being triggered so as to enable the opening of these
sections and the deployment of this airbag in the passenger
compartment.
10. Dashboard A dashboard of a motor vehicle comprising a dashboard
body and the airbag device according to claim 1, said airbag device
being fixed onto said dashboard body.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is the US National Stage under 35 USC
.sctn. 371 of International Application No. PCT/FR2018/050349,
filed 13 Feb. 2018 which claims priority to French Application No.
1752344 filed 22 Mar. 2017, both of which are incorporated herein
by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In general terms, the invention concerns an airbag device
for an interior trim element of a motor vehicle. In particular, it
concerns such an airbag device for the vehicle's dashboard, which
deploys in the vehicle compartment in the event of an impact by
passing through this dashboard in order to protect the occupant of
the right front seat of the vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Motor vehicles are commonly provided with airbags designed
to reduce the risk of injury to the occupant in the event of an
accident.
[0004] These devices are conventionally fitted in areas where the
driver or passengers are likely to come into contact with the
internal elements of the vehicle. Consequently, an airbag device is
usually mounted beneath the dashboard to protect the front
passenger of the vehicle.
[0005] Such a device conventionally comprises a security module
comprising a body forming a casing that houses the airbag and a gas
generator to inflate the airbag, as well as a firing channel fixed
to the dashboard to guide the deployment of the airbag when the gas
generator is triggered in the event of an accident.
[0006] The body of an airbag module is usually rigid in order to
control the geometry of the airbag in its folded configuration as
well as the deformation on deployment of this airbag by
withstanding the pressure generated.
[0007] The firing channel conventionally comprises a top wall, the
peripheral edge of which is designed to rest fixedly against the
perimeter of an opening provided in the body of the dashboard, as
well as at least two transverse guide flanges provided to partially
surround the security module.
[0008] It is known, particularly from US Pub. No. 2008/0023944, to
fix the security module to the firing channel with the aid of hooks
that are provided on two front and rear transverse sidewalls of its
body and are designed to engage in corresponding orifices provided
on the transverse guide flanges of the firing channel.
[0009] Alternatively, it is also known to provide, instead of
hooks, snap-fit teeth that cooperate by clicking into windows
provided in the transverse flanges of the firing channel.
[0010] After the security module has been triggered or as its
expiry date approaches, it must be removed from the firing channel
in order to be repaired or replaced under the after-sales service
agreement.
[0011] Unfortunately, due to the fact that it is fitted between the
dashboard and the passenger glove compartment, this security module
is particularly difficult for an operator to access.
[0012] The removal of the hooks or snap-fit teeth is thus
particularly tricky and also usually requires the use of special
tools so that the transverse flanges can be distanced from the
firing channel, and in the case of the transverse flanges being
inaccessible, involves removing all or part of the vehicle's
dashboard in order to access the security module.
[0013] In order to facilitate the removal of such a security
module, it is known to provide a large assembly clearance between
the transverse sidewalls of the firing channel and the transverse
sidewalls of this security module.
[0014] However, such a solution has the drawback of considerably
increasing the overall volume of the device and consequently the
space required to install it.
[0015] Furthermore, it requires the use of sound damping means such
as felt pads to prevent operating noise, which considerably
increases the device's cost.
SUMMARY
[0016] A simple and economic solution is disclosed to facilitate
the removal of the security module of such an airbag device.
[0017] To this end, an airbag device for an interior trim element
of a motor vehicle comprises a security module comprising a rigid
body forming a casing that houses an airbag and a gas generator, as
well as a firing channel comprising a top wall designed to be fixed
against the interior trim element and two transverse guide flanges
extending parallel to one another from and beneath the top wall
partially surrounding the body. The body comprises two parallel
transverse sidewalls each having a plurality of snap-fit teeth
which engage with respective windows provided in the corresponding
transverse flanges of the firing channel;
[0018] wherein the firing channel also comprises two transverse
walls extending close to its two side ends from and beneath the top
wall,
[0019] the body of the security module also comprising two
extensions each having an orifice or hole positioned close to one
of the respective transverse walls in order to enable rods to be
inserted through these orifices up to the top wall of the firing
channel to bear on these transverse walls such that they can pivot
about a transverse axis in order to exert a lever effect causing
the security module to move longitudinally relative to the firing
channel and thereby disengaging the teeth situated on one of the
transverse sidewalls from the corresponding windows of the
transverse flange of the firing channel.
[0020] The particular arrangement of these two transverse walls on
the firing channel and of these two orifices in the body of the
security module thus enables an operator to easily remove the
security module with the aid of simple ordinary screwdrivers
without the need to provide an assembly clearance between the
transverse flanges of the firing channel and the transverse
sidewalls of this module.
[0021] The overall volume of the airbag device is thus reduced,
together with its cost, due to the fact that no damping means are
required.
[0022] The device can include the following preferred
characteristics, taken alone or in combination: [0023] the external
faces of the transverse sidewalls of the body are set apart a
distance corresponding to a distance separating the internal faces
of the transverse flanges of the firing channel; [0024] the firing
channel is molded in one piece from an elastomer-filled
thermoplastic resin; [0025] the firing channel comprises two side
guide flanges extending parallel to one another from and beneath
the top wall and which partially surround the body of the security
module; [0026] the firing channel also comprises, close to its two
side ends, two bearing box-structures extending from and beneath
the top wall, the bottom end of each of the box-structures resting
against one of the corresponding extensions of the body of the
security module; [0027] each of the box-structures abuts against
the external face of one of the respective side guide flanges of
the firing channel; [0028] each of the transverse walls forms a
part of one of the respective bearing box-structures; [0029] each
of the extensions of the body has a second orifice aligned with a
respective hole formed in one of the corresponding box-structures,
the device also comprising two screw/nut pairs each screwed through
one of the second orifice and one of the holes; and/or [0030] the
top wall of the firing channel comprises two contiguous sections,
the contours of which are delimited by less resistant frangible
grooves capable of breaking under the pressure of the airbag in the
event of the device being triggered so as to enable the opening of
these sections and the deployment of this airbag in the passenger
compartment.
[0031] According to a second aspect, a dashboard of a motor vehicle
comprises a dashboard body and an airbag device as described above
which is fixed onto the dashboard body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] The disclosure of the invention will now be followed by a
detailed description of the invention, given here by way of
non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
[0033] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an airbag
device;
[0034] FIG. 2 represents a cross-sectional view of the device in
its assembled configuration, viewed along the plane passing through
one of the openings of the body of the security module designed to
be passed through by a rod; and
[0035] FIGS. 3 to 7 are views respectively similar to FIG. 2 but
showing in chronological order the different steps of removal of
the security module.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0036] In the following description and by convention, the terms
"front," "back," "above," "below," "longitudinal" and "transverse"
will be defined in relation to the assembly position of the airbag
device in a motor vehicle.
[0037] With reference to FIG. 1, the airbag device 1 comprises a
security module 10 comprising a rigid body 11 forming a
substantially parallelepiped casing 12 open at the top and housing
a folded airbag as well as a gas generator (not shown in the
Figures) to inflate this bag.
[0038] The device 1 also comprises a firing channel 20
conventionally comprising a top wall 21, the peripheral edge of
which is designed to rest fixedly against the periphery of an
opening provided in the body of the vehicle's dashboard.
[0039] The airbag device 1 is capable of adopting an assembled
configuration, shown in FIG. 2, wherein the body 11 of the airbag
module 10 is fixed onto the firing channel 20.
[0040] The firing channel, made of a material with certain
elasticity, is advantageously molded in one piece from an
elastomer-filled thermoplastic resin.
[0041] The firing channel also comprises front and back parallel
transverse flanges, 22 and 23, respectively, as well as two
parallel side flanges 24, 25 extending from and beneath the top
wall 21.
[0042] The top wall 21 comprises two contiguous sections 26, 27,
the contours of which are delimited by less resistant frangible
grooves 28 capable of breaking under the pressure of the airbag in
the event of the device 1 being triggered so as to enable the
opening of these sections and the deployment of this airbag in the
passenger compartment.
[0043] In order to fix the device to the body of the vehicle's
dashboard, the transverse guide flanges 22, 23 of this firing
channel 20 comprise, close to the top wall 21, a plurality of
elastic snap-fit lugs 29 capable of cooperating with the periphery
of the opening provided in the body of the dashboard.
[0044] These transverse guide flanges 22, 23 also have in their
bottom part a plurality of rectangular windows 30 spaced at regular
intervals along their length.
[0045] The firing channel 20 also comprises, close to its two side
ends, two inverted U-shaped bearing box-structures 32, 33 extending
from and beneath the top wall 21 and being centered therein along
the median transverse plane of the firing channel 20.
[0046] The bearing box-structures 32, 33 abut the external face of
their respective side flanges 24, 25. Each bearing box-structure
32, 33 comprises a front transverse wall 32A, 33A, a back
transverse wall 32B, 33B, and a bottom wall 32C, 33C connecting the
lower ends of these two transverse walls 32A, 32B, 33A, 33B. A
circular hole 32D, 33D is formed in the central part of the bottom
walls 32C, 33C.
[0047] Advantageously molded from a single piece of thermoplastic
material, the rigid body 11 of the airbag module 10 also comprises
front and rear parallel transverse sidewalls, 13 and 14,
respectively, which are rigidly connected to the casing 12 by a
plurality of ribs 15.
[0048] Forming respectively the front and rear ends of the body 11,
these transverse sidewalls 13, 14 have on their outer faces a
plurality of snap-fit teeth 16 formed by an inclined ramp extending
to a projection, each capable of cooperating by clicking into a
corresponding window 30 of the firing channel 20 when fitting the
airbag module 10 onto the firing channel 20.
[0049] In the assembled configuration of the device 1, the
transverse flanges 22, 23 and the side flanges 24, 25 of the firing
channel 20 partially surround the body 11 of the security module
10, the snap-fit teeth 16 of the body 11 being engaged in the
windows 30 of the firing channel with their projections facing the
bottom edges of these windows 30 so as to prevent any unintentional
or accidental removal of the security module 10 from the firing
channel 20 (FIG. 2).
[0050] The external faces of the transverse sidewalls 13, 14 of the
body are also spaced apart a distance corresponding to the distance
separating the inner faces of the transverse flanges 22, 23 of the
firing channel 20, so that in the assembled configuration of the
device 1, these transverse front 13 and rear 14 sidewalls of the
body 11 are abutting against the respective front 22 and rear 23
transverse guide flanges of the firing channel 20 (this absence of
longitudinal clearance between the body 11 and the firing channel
20 enabling optimum compactness of the device 1).
[0051] The rigid body 11 of the airbag module 10 also comprises two
extensions 17, 18, each projecting on either side from the top end
of the casing 12.
[0052] In the assembled configuration of the device 1, these
extensions 17, 18 extend parallel to the top wall 21 of the firing
channel 20 and rest against the bottom ends (i.e., the bottom walls
32C, 33C) of the bearing box-structures 32, 33 (FIG. 2).
[0053] Each extension 17, 18 has a central circular orifice 17A
(the one provided in the wall 18 not being visible in the Figures)
located in the median transverse plane of the body 11 and
positioned so as to be aligned with a corresponding hole 32D, 33D
in the firing channel 20 when the device 1 is in its assembled
configuration (see FIG. 2) so as to enable the possible screwing
in, through these two orifice/drilled hole pairs, of two screw/nut
pairs not shown and designed to eliminate any vertical clearance
between the security module 10 and the firing channel 20.
[0054] Each extension 17, 18 also has, behind the orifice 17A,
another orifice 17B (the latter provided in the wall 18 not being
visible in the Figures) positioned so as to be located close to a
respective rear transverse wall 32B, 33B of a corresponding bearing
box-structure 32, 33 of the firing channel 20 when the device 1 is
in its assembled configuration (see FIG. 2).
[0055] FIGS. 3 to 7 show the sequence of operations for removing an
airbag module 10 in order to replace it.
[0056] The first step, not shown, may involve removing the two
screws screwed through the orifices 17A, 32D and 33D (the nuts
remaining attached to the bottom faces 32C and 33C of the bearing
box-structures 32 and 33).
[0057] The operator must then vertically insert two rigid metal
rods T (such as, for example, those of two ordinary screwdrivers)
through the two central orifices 17B provided in the side walls 17,
18 of the body 11 of the airbag module 10 until the free ends of
the rods T come into contact with the top wall 21 of the firing
channel 20 (FIG. 3).
[0058] In this configuration, the top part of each of the two rods
T is then located facing and almost in contact with the respective
rear transverse wall 32B, 33B of a corresponding bearing
box-structure 32, 33.
[0059] The operator must then simultaneously perform a lever
movement of the two rods T making them pivot backwards about a
transverse axis located at their free ends resting against the base
of these rear transverse walls 32B, 33B (FIG. 4).
[0060] This pivoting of the rods T results in the backward
translational movement of the security module 10 and the elastic
deformation of the rear transverse guide flange 23 of the firing
channel 20 which pivots backwards about its top end (this elastic
deformation being made possible by the relative elasticity of this
firing channel).
[0061] As a result of this backward translation of the security
module 10, the snap-fit teeth 16 located on the front transverse
sidewall 13 of the body 11 gradually begin to exit the
corresponding windows 30 provided in the front transverse guide
flange 22 of the firing channel 20.
[0062] The continuation of the backward pivoting movement of the
rods T by the operator leads to the complete exit of these snap-fit
teeth 16 from the corresponding windows 30 and thus their
disengagement from the windows 30 of the transverse flanges of the
firing channel (FIG. 5).
[0063] As the front part of the security module 10 is thenceforth
no longer retained by the front transverse guide flanges 22 of the
firing channel 20, this module 10 begins by gravity to tilt
downwards about a transverse axis passing through the bearing areas
of the projections of the snap-fit teeth 16 of the rear transverse
sidewall 14 of the body 11 on the bottom edges of the corresponding
windows 30 provided in the rear transverse guide flange 23 of the
firing channel 20 which gradually returns to its initial position
(FIG. 6).
[0064] The operator can then completely withdraw the two rods T and
effortlessly remove the airbag module 10, which causes the return
of the rear transverse guide flange 23 of the firing channel 20 to
its initial position (FIG. 7).
[0065] According to variations not shown, the orifices 17B are
positioned so as to be close to the front side walls 32A, 33A of
the bearing box-structures 32, 33 of the firing channel 20 when the
device is in its assembled configuration.
[0066] According to other variations not shown, the bearing
box-structures can be omitted, and instead, the firing channel can
be provided with only two vertical walls, such as walls 32B and
33B, capable of cooperating with two rods introduced through
orifices 17B provided in the side walls 17 and 18 of the body 11 of
the security module 10. In such a case, these side walls 17, 18
also have no central orifice 17A designed to receive a screw.
[0067] According to yet other variations not shown, the airbag
device according to the invention is mounted on another interior
trim element of the vehicle such as, for example, a side door
panel.
[0068] Generally speaking, it will be remembered that the present
invention is not limited to the embodiments described and
represented, but includes all of the variations available to a
person skilled in the art.
* * * * *